FC Cincinnati vs. CF Montreal MLS Preview and Prediction
Matchday five of the MLS is in full swing as 12th-place CF Montreal tests 11th-place FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in an evenly matched showdown. The two teams are tied on points (three), so a win for either side will let them overtake one another.
Cincinnati will want their second home win of the season, while, on the contrary, Montreal looks to earn their second away game this year. Both teams will give everything, so be sure to tune into the matchup this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
FC Cincinnati vs. CF Montreal MLS Odds and Betting Trends
The two sides’ history dates back to 2019, with only 13 total games played against each other in the MLS regular season. Cincinnati holds the candle with seven wins to Montreal’s four, beating the Canadian side for the last three straight meetings, scoring at least three in each. Montreal has only ever won one away game in its 13 confrontations. The last time the two sides met was in October 2025, where Cincinnati oversaw a crucial 3-0 victory at home.
FC Cincinnati are clear-cut home favourites in this one at -160 on the MLS odds, while Montreal still has a chance at +300. A draw, which has only happened twice between these two teams, is priced at +300 as well. Over 2.5 goals are highly expected at -155 compared to the Under 2.5, given their matchup history.
CF Montreal
While Montreal kicked off March with a 3-0 victory against the NY Red Bulls, their potential streak was quickly snuffed out by their 2-1 defeat to Orlando City last Saturday. Prince Owusu was the team’s only goalscorer of the night with a 24′ finish, and despite the team’s 16 shots, Orlando put more on frame. Montreal did, however, dominate with 64 per cent possession on away grounds, and turned around a two-game scoreless streak into a two-game scoring streak.
Montreal continues to struggle at the back as they’ve already allowed the second-highest number of goals in the East this season (10), which could potentially cause them to set up a five-back for this matchup as they did against Orlando. Owusu has recorded two goals so far and leads his team, along with Wikelman Carmona, in scoring. The German-Ghanian 29-year-old is set to score anytime at +200, followed by Daniel Rios at +350, a striker with four goals for the Whitecaps last season on loan.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati split their focus in recent weeks between the MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup, although there’s little excuse for their current three-game losing streak in league play, with eight goals allowed after last season’s incredible performance. The New England Revolution dished out a 6-1 loss to Cincinnati most recently, while centre-midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela is now ruled out for a red card suspension. The team’s scoring capabilities are still there, especially in the Concacaf Champions Cup, where they scored three against Tigres UANL in the first leg (two from Kevin Denkey).
Denkey looks to keep the iron hot as the afternoon’s highest potential goalscorer at +130 as he’s already got one this season. Evander is next up at +135, and he’ll want to earn his first of the season after scoring 18 from the midfield last year. Tom Barlow follows his teammates up set to score anytime at +185.
MLS Prediction: Who Will Win FC Cincinnati vs. CF Montreal?
Cincinnati certainly has more on its plate with the Champions Cup Round of 16, but they’ve managed well in the tournament despite their slip-ups in the MLS. Evander and Denkey are two talented players who accounted for 34 of the team’s 54 goals last season. If Evander can especially get the ball rolling at home, it should be lights out for Montreal, a team that has struggled defensively for almost three straight seasons now.
Against talented teams, it’s difficult to see Montreal taking care of the possession, and even with one more goal (4) compared to their opponents after four games. They still hold a lower GD of -6, showing how vulnerable their back line is, a factor that has forced them to play a five-back this year.
Cincinnati will have well-worn legs from Thursday’s Champions Cup game, but if they have any remnants of what they were last year, they should come out victorious in this one. Overall, I foresee a 2-1 Cincinnati win at home, and Over 2.5 goals given only three of their 13 total matchups saw fewer than three goals.